Process of assembling axle constructions



Sept. 7 1926.

1,598,599 T. v. BUCKWALTER PROCESS OF ASSEMBLING AXLE CONSTRUCTIONS Filed Deb. 31. 1925 like numerals refer we w s an l, In

TIRAGY TLlEJ'tTUETWF-ALTELR, CANTQN', ill-L1H ilSSI' El-NOR TO THE LTIIVIKEN ROLLER BEAR- I COMPANY, OF CANTON, 02TH), it GOBPORATEON 01E OHIO.

ranches or assmunmne axan oon srnncrrons.

' Applieation filed December My invention relates to a process or press-J fitting wheels on axles, and has for 1ts printhe precision required for the proper 21(17.

justment of such bearings; and the principal object of the present nvention 1s to devise a practicable and economlcalprocess of positioning the wheels with the precision required for such bearings. The invention consists in the process hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing, which :torrns part of this specification and wherein to like parts wherever theyoccur: f

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of an axle construction in its semi-final stage of assembly, with the ram of the press shown at the limit of its strike; and 3 i Fig. 2 isa similar view ofthe axle at the end of its final stage of assembly,,with the ram of the press'at the limit of its stroke and with a shim interposed between said ram and the hub of the wheel.

The axle construction illustrated in the accompanying drawingcomprisesv a solid axle l, tubular housing il'encasing the solid axle, and tapered roller bearings interposed between the solid axle and the respectiveends of said housing. Each of the roller bearings comprises a cup 3 which fits in a recess provided therefor by enlar ing the diameter of the end portion of theiliousing, thus-providing a shoulder at against which the large end of said cup bears. Each of said bearings also comprises a cone 5 mount-v ed on the solid axle and capable of-being moved endwise thereot, the large end of the cone bearing against a ring or collar 6 which in turn bears against the hub 7 of the axle wheel or against an oil or dust, ring 8 that is interposed between said collar and said hub. Suitable antifriction rollers 9 are interposed between the cup and the cone.

in practice, the cups 3 of the bearings are pressed into the ends of the housing-2 and seated against the shoulders 4 thereof. The

31, 1925. Serial lease.

other parts of a bearing and the parts associated therewith are then slipped over one end of the solid axle and pressed into proper position thereon by pressing one wheel onto said end ofsaid axle with the outer face oij its hub flush therewith. The housing is then slipped over said solid axle, and

the remaining parts 'of the other bearing and the parts associated therewith are then placed in position. on said axle, and the hub of the other car wheel is the end of said axle.

The operation of pressing the wheels onto the solid axle requires considerable power and is'eli'ected by a heavy hydraulic press. l t hen'the second wheelis"being mounted,

then pressed onto the axle is rigidly held and the ram 10 of the press bears axially against the end of the hub of the car wheel, which hub projects beyond the other end of said axlei The workl'is so positionedrelative to the ram that the end of the solidaxle functions as a stop for limiting the forward move-' play endwise relatively of the solid axle slightly more than is permissible for the proper adjustment of the roller bearings.

The amount of this play is easily measurable by a suitable instrument; and likewise the extent to "which the hub projects beyond the end of the solid axle is 'easily measurable, and the difference between them indicates the distance the wheel would have to be moved to take up'all play of the housing endwise of the axle; As, however, proper adjustment of the bearings requires a slight play, the amount of such slight play is dedueted from said difference and an annular shim '11 of alarger inside'diameter than the diameterot the axle isinterposed between the hub of the wheel and the head of the ram and the'ra'm is made to move forward until it contacts with the end of the solid axle and thereby presses the wheel home, By this movement of the wheehthe bearing parts .areadjusted with great pre cisionQ l or instance, suppose 'the' endwise clay oi the'housin in the semifinal sta e i l l be indicated by Fig. it amounts to thirty-five thousandths of an inch (.035), and that the hub of the wheel projects twenty thoui sandths of an inch (.O 20?" beyond .the end sandths of an inch the thickness of the shim required for ob-' taining such accurate adjustment and also indicating the distance which the end of the solid axlepro'ects beyond the hub of the wheel injthe-T nal adgustment. It is notedthat after the work is once placed inproper position with reference to interposed between an axle construction wherein th ram, neither the work'nor the ram re-.

uires any ad'ustment; and it is also noted t at even if g t e parts of the axle construction depart-up reciably from the dimensions specified t erefon the selection of the shim or shimsof proper thickness will insure the precise adjustment of the bearings. While the foregoingdescription is particu larly applicable to axle constructions of the type illustrated, it is also applicable to other constructions; and, of course,- some otherlimiting stop may be used instead of the solid axle. v

WhatIclaimis: 1. The processofvassembling the parts of asolid axle with wheels press-fitted thereon. is'enclosed in a tubular housing with roller; bearings said solid axle and the ends of said housing, which consists in initially assembling an of the partsexcept one wheel, pressing said wheel endwiseto a position slightly short of its final position, measuring the further distance to which the limiting devices will permit said wheel to be pressed ;and also measuringthe endwise play of theihousing relative to .said solid axle', placing a'shim of-less'thickne'ss than the difference between said measurements over the end of the hub of said wheel, and

again pressing'sa'id wheel home endwise of the axle.

i 2. The process of assembling the parts of an axleg co'nstruction wherein a solid axle with wheels press-fitted thereon is enclosed hub of the wheel becomes in a tubular housing with tapenroller bearings interposed between said solid axle and i the ends ofisaid housing, which consists in initially assembling all of the parts except one wheel', pressingsaid wheel endwise to a position'slightly short of the final position, i 'measuring the further distance to which the limiting devices will permit sai'd wheel to be pressed and also measuring the endwise play of the housing relative to said solid axle,

placing a shim of less thickness than the diiferencebetween said measurements over the end of the-hub of said wheel, and again priassing said Wheel home endwise of the ax e.

3. The process of assembling the parts of an axle construction wherein a solid'axle with wheels press-fitted thereon is enclosed in a tubular housing with roller bearings interposed between ends-of said housing; which consists in im' tia-lly assembling 'all of the parts except one wheel, pressing said wheel endwise to a position slightly short of its final position, measuring the endwise playof the housing relative to possible movement of the Wheel on said axle, interposing between said wheel and the pressure device a shim whose thickness is less difference between these-measu'rethan the -ments by an amount equal to the play suitable for proper adjustment of the bearings, anil again pressing said wheel home on said ax e. i

4. The process of assembling the parts of an axle construction. with wheels fess-fitted thereon ,is enclosed in atubular ousing fwith taper rollerbearings interposed between, said? solid axleandtheends of said housing, which-consists in intially assembling all of .the parts except one Wheel, pressing said 'whe'eljendwise to a osition' on said 'axle slightly; short ofiits beyond said axle, measuring the endwise play ofthe housing .relative.to. said solid .axle and the extent of such projection, placing over the "end of the hub of said wheel an annular shimof less thickness than the difference between said f'm'easurements', andagain pressing said the axle until the shim'at the end of-the of said axle.

flush with the endsaid solid axle and the.

said solid axle'and the further wherein a solid axlewheel endwise of Signed at Canton, Ohio, this 21st day of December, 1925.

TRACY V. BUCKWALTER Final position and with-its hub projecting 

